Witnesses say suspects got knives from car

All the benches in Rockville Superior Court’s Courtroom D were full Wednesday as the two men University of Connecticut police have connected to the death of football star Jasper Howard were arraigned.

Although court documents are sealed for two weeks, prosecutors said numerous eyewitnesses not only place John W. Lomax III and Hakim Muhammad at the UConn Student Union on Sunday, Oct. 18, but also saw them leave a “minor” altercation, “arming themselves” with knives and returning to the fight.

Family and friends of Lomax and Muhammad sat motionless and silent as Judge Elliot Solomon kept bond high for both men.

Tears streamed down the faces of the two men as the judge announced his decision to keep their bail high.

Lomax’s bond remained at $2 million while Muhammad’s bond was reduced from $750,000 to $450,000.

Both men remain in custody this morning.

Lomax, 21, of 28 Barry Circle, Bloomfield, has been charged with murder and conspiracy to commit assault in the first-degree.

Muhammad, 20, of 11 Barry Circle, Bloomfield, has been charged with conspiracy to commit assault in the first-degree.

UConn police arrested the two men Tuesday after gathering evidence that, they say, links them to the death of Howard.

Howard, 20, of Miami, died of a single stab wound to the abdomen early that Sunday morning.

He was attending a West Indian Student Organization dance at the Student Union when a fire alarm was activated.

After more than 300 people evacuated the building, an altercation between a group of students and non-students occurred.

Tolland County State’s Attorney Matthew Gedansky said it was also during that altercation Lomax and Muhammad went to Lomax’s car and returned with weapons. It was during that fight Howard was stabbed.

Despite pleas from Hartford attorney Deron Freeman, representing Lomax, and attorney Gerald Klein, representing Muhammad, to significantly lower the bonds for their clients, Solomon said bonds had to reflect the charges brought against the men.

Solomon kept Lomax’s bond at $2 million after prosecutors said Lomax was cooperative with police when he thought he was “merely” a witness to the crime, but, now that he is the main suspect, he is likely to flee.

Gedansky argued Lomax was a “danger to the community” and had a high “risk of flight” because of the case the state is bringing against him.

“That changes everything for him,” said Gedansky.

Freeman said, after reading court documents, there was not a clear, “100 percent” identification of Lomax as the murderer.

“There’s no question that this investigation involved a number of witnesses who saw bits and pieces of that evening,” he said as he proposed reducing Lomax’s bond to $250,000.

Klein, also a Hartford attorney, said Muhammad’s bond should be lowered because he does not have a criminal record and no witnesses saw him use a knife.

“Nothing in the warrant claims he did anything with (the knife),” said Klein. “The mere presence at the scene of a crime doesn’t make anyone guilty.”

After watching as both men were escorted from the courtroom wearing handcuffs, ankle cuffs and state-provided uniform shirts, family and friends broke down from the judge’s ruling.

Friends escorted one supporter - who punched the elevator wall after the arraignment - out of the courthouse when he appeared unable to control his anger.

Another supporter, a female, needed assistance walking when she began sobbing and threw her umbrella.

Lomax family spokesman Alfonzo Stokes, 48, of East Hartford, said Lomax claims he is innocent and did not commit the murder. Stokes, a friend of the family, spoke Wednesday on behalf of Lomax’s mother and family.

“John’s a good kid,” said Stokes. “He was at the wrong place at the wrong time.”

Lomax is due back in Rockville Superior Court Nov. 13 and Muhammad will return Nov. 20.